Combined universal joint and bearing



Sept. 9, 1941. c. M. JOHNSON 2,255,172

COMBINED UNIVERSAL JOINT AND BEARING Filed Feb. 1, 1940 1| un' n 1 2- 4 4" Z4 INVENTOR m/mm, BY

1615' M'Q- WM ATT RN Y5.

Patented ,Septe9; L941 UNITED {STATE s. PATENT oFFlcE v Claims. This invention relatesto, a combined universal sembly.

An object of the invention resides in a device of this character wherein the bearing for the shaft willserve to hold the component parts of joint and bearing for an articulated shaft asv the universal Joint in the assembled relationship.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the description progresses.

In the drawing:

Figure. 1 is a sectional view of the assembly showing the same adapted for use-where it is not subjected to submersion in liquids as for instance in airplane controls;

Figure 3 is a section through a modification of the universal Joint; and

Figure '4 .is an elevation, partly in'section, of

the assembly showing the same adapted for'use and secured by any of the well known methods. The frame may be provided with a. flange 19 by means of which it maybe secured to a support such as a bulkhead by means of fasteners such as bolts 201 In assembling, the rings 13 and it are slipped over the,bearing members 13.4. 5 and 6, and

are locked therein by within the frame. I6. and the flange or lock ring it.

,'When the device is to be used in locations where it is not likely to be subjected to submersion orany considerable amount of liquid, a bellows 2i of rubber or the like may be used to confine a lubricant around the universal Joint and Figure 2 is a cross section through the univer-' s'al joint on line 22 of Figure l;

aring. A similar formed as to be expansible may be mounted as where it is subjected to submersion in liquid as for instance in marine work.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figures l, 2 and 4 includes articulated shaft sections a l and 2. The end'of each section is bifurcated 2 forming forked bearing elements 3, 6, 5 and 3 having inside faces I and convex outside faces 8.

Between the bearing elements 3, 8, d and 6 a block 9 is located which block mental to the faces I; 7

Ball bearings III are located between the faces 'I and the complemental faces of the block 9. These ball bearings are located in semi-spherical seats; in the block 9, and in slots l2- in the bearing elements 3, 4, 5 and 6.- Of course'the order here may be reversed, i. e., the slots may be in the block and the seats in the bearing members.

The manner of assembling the universal joint is this: The ball bearings II are placed in their seats and the bearing members slipped laterally over them into their final positions, the ball bear- 118s riding in the slots l 2.

has faces comple- In order that the thus engaged ends of the shaft sections maybe held in this assembled relation for universal movement, and a bearing member therefor provided, I contemplatethe use of a bearing member which includes two rings I3 and I4 which have concave faces l5 complemental to and cooperating with the convex faces 8 of the bearing members '3, 4, 5 and 6.

These rings l3 and M are mounted within a frame l6 that is provided with a permanent annular flange ii at one side and a removable flange the same together, and

- 18 at the other side, which latter may be applied shown in Figure 4 when thedevice is to be sub-.

merged in or subjected to any considerable amount of fluid. Here again the bellows may be used to confine a lubricant.

In the modification shown in Figure 3 I have substituted pins 23, 24 the pin 25 .is preferably inserted in a receiving opening in the block 9 and the bearing members 5 ands and pins 23 and 28 are then inserted in receiving openings in members 3 and d. The remainder of the device is then assembled as before described.

If desired, one or both of the shaft sections may be constructed as shown in Figure 1 wherein two tubular sections assembled and held in sliding engagement but against relative rotation by a pin 28 that is in fixed relation to the section 21 and extends through the slots 29 in the section 26, A second pin 30 is in fixed relation to a plug 8| and is slidabie in slots '32 28 is also fixed in While I ticular form of my device it is to be understood that many changes therein may be made without departing from the claims.

What I claim is:

l. A combined universal Joint and bearing including shaft sections having forked ends, a block disposed between said forked ends, pins loosely engaged with the forked relation to the plug 3|.

a bearing member surrounding the forked ends and in which the same are adapted to rotate, which bearing member is adapted to prevent the displacement of .the pins.

2. In a combined universal Joint and bearing including shaft sections having forked ends. a

block disposed between said forked ends, ball bellows 22 but.of metal which is so and 25. In assembling the block 9 and the bearing 26- and 21 are telescopically in the section 26. The pin 3 have illustrated and described a parends and block to hold bearings disposed between the block and the inner surfaces of the forked ends, and'a bearing member surrounding the. the latter are adapted to rotate, arranged to prevent the relative displacement of the ball bearmas and the forked ends.

3. A combined universal joint and bearing including shaft sections having forked ends, a block disposed between said forked ends, the diameter of the block being less than the distance between the members of the fork on each of said shafts,

ball bearings seated in the block and engaging the inner faces of the members of the forks, and

a bearing surrounding the forked ends, to permit the said forked ends to move pivotally on'the ball bearings but to prevent relative lateral movement of the block and forked ends'of the shaft sections.

4. A combined cluding shaft sections having forked ends, a block disposed between universal Joint and bearing lnforked ends and in which a bearing member ends and block having aligned openings arranged at right angles to each other, a pin extending through the aligned opening! in one direction,

- of the retaining elements from the complemental said forked ends, said forked recesses and to support the universal Joint.

convpon M. Johnson. I 

